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Living Worthy Of Your CallingAfter an accident a young girl named Jamie refused to go to school or church because she had lost her arm. After about a year she thought could face her peers. To help, her mother called her Sunday school teacher and asked that he not call attention to Jamie. The teacher promised, but he got sick that Sunday and they called in a substitute. At the conclusion of the lesson that day, which was about inviting friends to church, the “sub” led the class in doing the hand motions to the old children's poem: “Here's the church, Here's the steeple, Open the door, See all the people!” Jamie's eyes filled with tears - when a 13-year-old boy came to the rescue. Quickly he knelt beside her and offered his hand so with one hand apiece, they supported each other, making the church, steeple, and people. Together those young people illustrated what the real church is like. In our continuing studies of Ephesians, we have made the transition from the doctrinal portion to the practical application. I really like the way Paul approaches this letter. First he gives the first century church a foundation of where they sit with Christ. Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Paul laid a foundation of what God has done, who Jesus Christ is, and the calling of the believer unto salvation. Then as we enter the second half of his letter, Paul makes the transition to a more practical application of our faith. He gives us pictures and models of what faith looks like. How faith acts in the life of the believer and in the church. So this morning, lets read the first six verses of chapter four as we consider, “Living worthy of your calling.” READ THE TEXT-- EPHESIANS 4:1-6 “LIVING WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING” Our text begins with the words “As a prisoner for the Lord, then”, some translations say “therefore.” So you have to ask: What is it there-for? For what reason is Paul referring to this imprisonment? Of course he is speaking about the things of chapters 1-3, how Paul carefully laid out the doctrines of where the believer is seated with Christ in the heavenly. He carefully laid the foundation of important doctrines of our faith so the young believes in Ephesus and us here today would not think this Christian faith is just a bunch of rules for good living. No, our faith in in God, our faith is about our Savior Jesus Christ, our faith rooted in the Grace of God. Our faith says that God saves people for the purpose of good works that he might be displayed in our lives. The young believes in Ephesus needed to know that, they need a foundation of faith, before they needed a model of what faith looks like. So that is what Paul does. I think some folks miss this important order, that before we know how to walk with the Lord, first we must know where we are seated with the Lord. I have observed people who stumble in this, because they try to walk, before they sit. They have good works -- without knowing Grace. Sermons are preached, seminars are given, books are published on how to live a Christian marriage. How the husband is to lead, and how the wife is to submit, but without first acknowledging what God has already done for us, without first understanding there is nothing you can do for God to love you more. Those efforts might become a hard law that can not be kept. Our Christian walk is not something we do to earn God's favor, its not a way you live so God will love you more. No the Christian walk is the response to knowing that God loves us. Its the surrender to the Holy Spirit who guides us into how to live as we clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us . We respond to the Love of God because he first loved us. So the things of chapters 4-6 of Ephesians are not rules on how to live, but a picture of what Holy Spirit says. John goes on to say. 1 John 4:21 Whoever loves God must also love his brother. My friends that's what we see in our text today. That if your life is contrary to what we see in our text today, you are not loving God. Now don't get mad, get mad a God, because his word that says, if you say you love God but don't treat others in love, your just fooling yourself and you need to examine your faith. Two important topics Paul talks about as he begins the practical section of this book of Ephesians. First that we live worthy, and second that we live united.
Notice Paul's strong language, “I urge you to live a life worthy of your calling.” The NLT says, I beg you. KJV says, “I beseech you.” Strong language. Paul's plea is of the strongest language . So guys, this is important stuff. When Jesus ascended into heaven he said. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Spirit will empower you to live a life of faith -- to be a witness for Jesus. To be, its something you are, but I always like to consider Jesus words as a priority list. First you will witness for me in Jerusalem, where you live, your home the place you dwell. When you live a life worthy of you high calling in Christ in front of those who know you best, you are empowered to live a worthy life to those in your surrounding neighborhood, your Judea. Those who see you the most should see Christ in you. Yesterday I was watching a replay of the dedication of the Billy Graham library, Franklin Graham, Billy's son said. I want you to know the public Billy Graham is the same man we know at home? What a powerful testimony of faith as a man's son says, what you see is real. He's no different here as he is at home. Once we are living a life of faith at home then you are empowered to go to the Samaritans or the ends of the earth. Live a life worthy of your calling, but don't just do it to other people who don't know the real you. Start with those who know you the best, then it is effective wherever God sends you. What does this “high calling” look like? 1. HUMBLE. Humility is from God, most people are not naturally humble, but humility is the example of our Lord. Matt 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." We love that scripture, to come to Jesus to give him our burdens, the burden of sin, the burdens of life. But don't miss the example of Jesus right there in the middle. “For I am gentle and humble in heart.” William Temple said. “Humility is not to think less of yourself, but to be free not to think of yourself one way or another at all.” Guys we live in a narcissistic society, everything centers around self. We read “self” magazine, we are in love with pampering ourselves, we have self esteem conferences, and largest type of books published today are “self help” books. But the bible says humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. The bible teaches that God opposes the proud, but gives Grace to the humble. Here Paul says to live a life worthy of your calling, you must be completely humble. To be humble you must recognize that things are not about you. Look to our Jesus- who made no reputation for himself. He considered others above himself yet he was the Lord. When he raised the dead, he said, don't tell, when he calmed the storm he made no big deal of it. Jesus example is “Strength without reputation.” Rom 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Living a life worthy of your calling is to live a Humble life. 2. GENTLE. When I think of gentle I think of Jesus Christ who was totally approachable by anyone. The children flocked to him, the sinners sat with him, the lost were attracted to him. He spoke the truth to people who were in sin, “go and sin no more.” He told those who were lost, “You must be born again.” But Jesus did all that with gentleness of word and gentleness of heart. Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Clothe yourselves-- be covered with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Have you ever noticed the Golfer Tiger Woods and how he is clothed in Nike-- head-to-toe. He wears Nike footwear, Nike clothing, Nike gloves, Nike hats, and he even uses Nike Golf Balls and clubs." That's the description Paul give us -- “as God's people be dressed "head-to-toe" in Christ's wardrobe." Our text says, “be completely Gentle” How do you respond to tough issues of life? Do you face them head on, but in gentleness? Do you live out the Proverb, that “A gentle answer turns away wrath?” How do you share the Gospel with others? Are you ready to give the reason you have hope. 1 Peter 3:15 ...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect Gentleness is living the life worthy of your calling. 3. PATIENT. Oh no, he's going to talk about patience. Someone once said, “don't pray for patience unless you want trails.” James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. We know that God brings tough things in our lives to develop us. To grow our faith and to bring us to a place where we will walk / we will live a life worthy of our calling. So you really should never be afraid to pray for patience. Patience comes in rough times. I love the example of how a pearl develops: A grain of sand gets sucked in by an oyster and it causes irritation. Then the oyster throws off a milky secretion, which forms a coating around the grain of sand and it hardens. Over years more and more layers add to the thing that caused irritation, until it becomes something of beauty. That's how we develop patience. The bible tells us that God is patient with you, not wanting any to parish but all to come to eternal life. How many of us in this room would be part of God kingdom if the Lord would have returned soon. Someone once said: “It may be difficult to wait on the Lord, but it is worse to wish you had.” Notice Paul says that true patience “Bears with others in love.” That means, your patient with them as God works in their lives. It also means you bear their burdens and help them to become what God is making them. Gal 6:2 Carry each other's burdens , and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. How do you respond to someone who is always in times of turmoil? How do you react when you ask someone: “How's it going?” And then they proceed to tell you? Does patience shine from your heart? Can you bear their burdens in love? Can you bless them with prayer? Can you reach out to carry them though the troubles they are having? Can you be the listening ear they need? Only as we live a life worthy of our calling, only by the power of Christ living in me, can we be that way with others. One last thought about living a life worthy. Some translations say walk in a manner worthy. To live to walk both imply action, this is the nuts and bolts of following the Holy Spirit. Paul carefully chose his words here he uses a Greek word that means to “be preoccupied” with these things. Friends that's what it means to live worthy, it means “to follow the Spirit.”
In chapters two and three we saw Paul make a passionate plea about the revelation he was given. His revelation? That there is one church, it was not Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, it was believers born again by the Spirit of God. True believers who have laid down their lives and taken up the cross of Jesus. So Paul's second point in living a life worthy of your calling is to live united. 1. UNITY BRINGS PEACE. --- TURN TO PSALM 133 Unity is like when Israel anointed the high priest and poured oil on his head, it ran down his beard, it went over his shoulders and all the way to the bottom of his priestly robe. This is where the Lord bestows his blessing. Because unity among the brothers and sisters brings peace. A few years ago in a museum an older white-haired gentleman was standing fascinated before a painting of Jesus that the artist had done with very unique strokes of the brush. After gazing at it for a few moments he murmured to himself, "Bless Him, I love Him!" A stranger standing near overhead him and said, "Brother, I love Him, too," and clasped his hand. A third caught the sentence and said, "I love Him, too"; soon there stood in front of that picture a little circle of people with hands clasped, utter strangers to one another, but made one by their common love of Jesus Christ. That's a picture of the type of unity that brings peace. 2. EXAMPLES OF UNITY. Paul gives us seven pictures of unity. Seven examples to show us what Christian unity looks like. 1. ONE BODY. He had already told us this several times. That the church is one. Not First Baptist and Second Methodist. Not High Sierra and Grace Community. Its one church, with only true believes as part of that church. Let me take a couple of minutes to talk to you candidly about a new ministry that a couple of guys from this fellowship are starting. Perhaps you have heard that Tim Hartman and Vince Vernaza are starting a new ministry. Gardnerville Christian Center will launch soon. Perhaps you have heard something about his being a ministry of HSF. Lets take a minute so I can update you or let you know what's is going on. First, this new ministry is not an outreach of HSF. However we support Vince and Tim in their vision, because of the unity we have with them in Christ. These guys have a vision for reaching high schoolers and young adults for the Lord. Their excitement is contagious, their vision is good, yet their methods and approach to ministry are very different then ours. So we will be sending them out with blessings. They will continue to be part of this congregation for however long they want, I will continue to Pastor them and mentor them. We will support them with prayer, advice, talents and time. But its time to get this thing going. I pray that it works well, that many souls will come to faith by their efforts. I wish Tim was here today because this is a perfect example of Unity. Total support and agreement on Jesus Christ and reaching others. But differing views of how to do that. At the core, I do not agree with building a church built on any demographic. A church for just young people, a church for just white people, a church for just tall people. I believe that the young can lean from the old, and we old folks can get excited about what God is doing with the young. Just as we have seen here in our text, that Paul tells the Gentile church of Ephesus, there is one church not the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. So we are united with these guys, we are excited about Tim and Vince's excitement, and we are praying with them for success, but it is not an outreach of HSF. So, next Sunday we will publicly pray for them and send them off. Unity one body. 2. ONE SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is not only one, he is the great uniter of the church. The same Spirit calls young and old, black and white. The same spirit of God works in all believes all around the world, calling the united message of love, joy and peace. So from the one and same spirit we see a powerful/ practical example of unity in the body. 3. ONE HOPE. Hope is the expectation of coming good. Are you expecting something good to come from your faith? The good of heaven is coming to all who believe. And the blessed hope is for the church. Titus 2:13 ...We wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the reason we do not have Christian unity with people who deviate from the Gospel. Those who do not believe in eternal life as the bible teaches. Those who do not believe Jesus will return. How can we have unity with them? 4. ONE LORD. When Jesus wanted to make sure his men were grounded on a sure saving faith he asked them. Who do men say that I am? Their answer was the thoughts of the populous that day. Matt 16:14-18 ... "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you ?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Who is your Lord, there is one Lord, Jesus, one savior Jesus, one way, to heaven, Jesus Christ, and upon the rock of confession of his name the church is built. Talk about unity. Because of your calling look to your one Lord who is never divided as an example. 5. ONE FAITH. Our faith is directed faith, our faith is focused faith. Directed toward our one God, ever present in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One faith brings unity in the faith. 6. ONE BAPTISM. There is one baptism by which you are saved. That is baptism into the body of Christ. I challenge you on this that he is not talking about baptism as with water only. But being immersed into faith in Christ, being baptized into the body of Christ. That is the only way anyone becomes a Christian. Then having believed you are obedient into the waters of baptism. The bible actually speaks of four different baptisms. The baptism of repentance, or John's baptism, no longer needed because of Jesus complete work. Second the believers baptism, or water baptism as we practice it today, for a testimony and obedience into the faith we confess. Third the bible speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That's a loaded topic, but basically it's speaking of a total surrender of your will to the will of the Holy Spirit so that your life, your thoughts, your actions are being led by and control by the Holy Spirit. Finally there is this baptism into the body of Christ. That happens in the Spirit when you are born again and receive Jesus as your Lord and savior. Every believer has this one baptism. 7. ONE GOD. One not three gods, but one God, ever present in the Father the son and the Holy Spirit. Unity in the body, unity among believers is exampled in God himself. Jesus said it best. John 10:30 I and the Father are one ." Unity in the church is part of living a life worthy of your calling. Unity is exampled by God himself. Who is always united in the work he does among believers. Why is unity to live a life worth of your calling? The working of the church in unity accomplishes much more for God then a bunch of individuals doing the same thing. “Synergism” is defined as simultaneous action of separate agents working together that produces a greater total effect than the sum of their individual efforts. In other words, more can be done in a team effort than can be accomplished solo. The story is told of a horse-pull contest in Canada. One horse pulled 9,000 pounds, another 8,000. But when tied together you might expect them to pull 18,000 pounds. Not so! When teamed together, they pulled 30,000 pounds. The call to the church in Ephesus is the same as the call to the church today. Live, walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received. Today we have seen a picture of what it means to walk in the ways of the Spirit. Lets take this day to examine our own lives and listen to the call of the Spirit to walk and live in these ways. PRAY INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: Ephesians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
